Operation VI: Bloodhound

[Captain Benjamin Maxwell]

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- Incoming Coded Message -
- Command Instruction Follows -
- Decode : Alpha Protocol - GALxOMEGA 15th: 487th -
- Disseminate by need only -
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Operation Codename: Bloodhound
Planet: Ares
Terrain: Sparse urban / rolling fields / swamp land
Heat Efficiency: 90%
Time: Day

NARRATIVE:

Impressed with the quality of the work we performed during Operation: Phoenix Down, House Liao has called upon us to investigate a situation that is rapidly escalating out of control.

It would seem that a band of well-equipped pirates has been taking advantage of the Blakist-induced turmoil in the Inner Sphere, conducting raids on the industrial world of Ares, home of Earthwerks Limited, the leading manufacturer of Union, Kuan Ti, and Overlord-class DropShips, as well as multiple BattleMech and vehicle production facilities that are becoming increasingly critical to the survival of the Capellan Confederation.

Due to the intensity and frequency of the raids, it is thought that these pirates have established a local base of operations from which they are launching their strikes - perhaps even in the Ares star system itself. Ordinarily, the planetary militia would deal with a situation like this, but these pirates are bolder, more persistent and better-organized, and the local boys simply haven't got the firepower to properly deal with the threat.

Additionally, the Capellan military is fully engaged with the Blakist forces sweeping through their empire, and cannot allocate any of its assets.

This is where we come in.

The Legionnaires have been called upon to track down the pirates and their base of operations, and wipe them out, using whatever means necessary.

As always, House Liao is making sure we're well-compensated. Payment for successful completion of this contract is 40,000,000 C-Bills, plus salvage rights to all hostile assets.

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MISSION OBJECTIVES:

Mission objectives are decidedly simple for this mission. As always, this has our MechCommanders extremely concerned.

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ALL LANCES AND DETACHMENTS:

Primary Objectives:

I. Eliminate any bandit activity found to be taking place in the Ares system upon arrival.

II. Locate bandit base of operations

III. Eliminate all bandit assets with extreme prejudice

IV. Extract

Secondary Objectives:

a. Destroy all targets of opportunity.


THREAT REPORT:

Heavy. During Liao's last encounter, the bandits were found to be well-equipped. The planetary militia was not able to successfully route them. It is believed that multiple bandit assets are still operating on Ares.

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PLANETARY OVERVIEW:

Planet Details: Ares



Star Type: M1IV
Position in System: 8 (of 12)
Number of Moons: 1 (Naga)
Days to Jump Point: 3
Surface Water: 79%
Atm. Pressure: Standard
Surface Gravity: 1.00
Equatorial Temp: 30° C
Highest Native Life: Reptiles
Population: 4,227,000,000
Governor: Shen Nuken
Planetary Legate: Ma Biaonu

OVERVIEW:

Settled in August 15, 2369, as an independent colony within the Capellan Zone, Ares is a commercial free port with many factories and supported by local exemptions from standard import duties. It is one of the few truly prosperous small worlds in the Confederation. Ares is most often remembered as the site of the famous peace conventions organized by Aleisha Liao. The savage campaigns fought in the Tintavel system in 2412, between the Free Worlds League and the Capellan Confederation, caused massive loss of civilian life. Appalled at this, Chancellor Aleisha Liao, spent months drafting an 80-page document describing conditions for "civilized warfare," rules intended to spare civilians from the horrors of unlimited war. Aleisha dispatched copies of her work to the leaders of all the warring realms, but expected only a lukewarm response. Instead, most of the leaders immediately communicated their wholehearted agreement.

Encouraged by the response, Aleisha immediately suggested a summit meeting on the Capellan world of Ares to further discuss the document. After much negotiation, the Ares Conventions were signed in the Grand Hall of the city of New Olympia on June 13, 2413.

Today, ironically, Ares maintains one of the few Capellan 'Mech producing centers left in existence. Though the Ares factories are still rebuilding from the devastation of the Forth Succession War, it is on Ares that the Capellans have chosen to experiment with developing a stable, triple-strength myomer.

The destruction of most of the Quikscell Company's component lines at their Ares plant has actually led to their putting out a higher-quality product. Quikscell has always been known to use cheap parts; now that it is little more than an assembly plant, it is forced to rely on components shipped in from more conscientious firms.

COMMANDER'S NOTES:

Another deceptively simple contract from House Liao. Routing pirates shouldn't be too difficult, although if the rumors about them fortifying somewhere in the Ares system are true, then we could, potentially, have a much bigger problem on our hands.

Stay sharp.

- TRANSMISSION ENDS -

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Sender: Captain Benjamin Maxwell
Encryption Priority: HIGH
HPG Relay 8XV44-GAMMA-1081
Received: OP Comp. 0652 Standard Terran Time
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[ - Soundtrack - ]

[Yeoman Hobson]

"That'll be fourteen credits."

I shuffled through the pockets of my flightsuit, trying to find my credit tube. I was certain I had picked it up on the way out of my quarters...but...

"Have you got it, or not, Hobson? You're holding up the line?"

The cashier gave me an imperious stare. I began to feel the blood rushing to my face.

"I...uh..."

"I got it. Don't worry about it." An arm reached past me, dropping a credit tube into the cashier's outstretched hand. I turned to see MechWarrior Lourde standing behind me.

"Thanks, Wedge. I really appreciate it."

Lourde chuckled, and grabbed a handful of napkins.

"Don't worry about it. I don't think anyone was expecting the briefing to be held here, anyway."

The cashier finished processing Wedge's payment, and shoved the tube back into his hand. We gathered our trays, and made our way toward a large grouping of tables that had been arranged to accomodate the entire detachment of Legionnaires that would be participating in the latest Op. The Captain had chosen to conduct the briefing in a less formalized environment, and decided that the mess hall would provide the perfect atmosphere. As we approached the table, we could see that quite a few of the crew had already taken their seats, poking at their lunches as they waited for the last few stragglers to arrive. Captain Maxwell was seated at the head of the table, making some last-minute adjustments to the portable holoprojector which had been situated in the center of the seating arrangments. Crewman Machia smiled at me as she noticed our arrival.

"Hey, hey, the gang's all here!"

[Lance Commander William Rhodes]

William was already in the mess hall when Captain Maxwell entered and began preparing the briefing for our next Op. Nursing a cup of Earl Grey, William was going over the notes for Bloodhound on his PDA.

Hmmm. Working for Liao? I'm not too fond of the Cappies but the pay looks good.

William was from the Capellan March of the Federated Suns, an area with a long history of conflict with the Capellan Confederation. His homeworld, Kathil, had been raided by the infamous Death Commandoes of House Liao during the Fourth Succession War before he was born.

Well, it's a different universe today. The Blakists make the Cappies look like a bunch of Sunday school children.

[MechWarrior Alex Thorn]

I walked into the mess hall and walked to the nearest table. Even after the last OP I was ready for this one. Sitting around for too long didnt sit well with me.

I sat down and scanned the room. Most of the Legionnaires were coming in. Some looked relieved to be starting another OP like me other looked like they wanted to stay longer.

I also noticed others were getting food and drinks. I didnt want to because that would be distracting to me and that was the last thing I needed for this OP.

[Dr. Jessica Saturina]

All three of us walked into the mess hall. I spotted William and Lourde sitting together eating and waiting for it to begin. I wasn't hungry so I grabbed a drink and went over, sitting next to William and Lourde.

"Hi guys, everybody excited about the next mission?"

Lourde said he was looking forward to it, then William said.

"No food Doc.?"

"No, not hungry, just extremely thirsty. I'll probably grab something later. I always get a little hyper before a mission." I laughed nervously.

"Has anyone seen Schuster yet? I was hoping to see him before this Op gets started. Well if either of you see him before I do call him over to our table will you please?"

Both William and Lourde nodded their heads as they were both busy enjoying their food. I sat quietly sipping my green iced tea, waiting for things to start. Enjoying the company of William and Lourde.

[Nicholas Schuster]

I wandered into the mess hall, my head still pounding. I sat at the opposite end of the table, and though I was terribly hung over, I found myself drinking a cup of coffee spiked with the makings of a Steiner PPC. If I was going to be focused at all on this Op, I needed a fix.

[Lance Commander William Rhodes]

Seeing Mechwarrior Taylor enter the room with Alice and Jessica, William rose from his seat to shake their hands.

Good to see you back on your feet, boss. Bravo lance just isn't the same without you.

William noticed that Marcus and Alice were exchanging coy looks and shy smiles as they talked.

Are those two an item?

[Wedge Lourde]

"I'll get it, Hobson."

I gave the casheer my money tube. 28 C-Bills and 6 seconds later, I sat at a table with Rhodes, and not long after, Saturina walked in and sat next to me.

"How are you, Wedge. I don't think you've visited the infirmary since Op IV!"

We both laughed.

[Lance Commander Marcus Taylor]

I walked in with Dr. Saturnia and Alice. As we did so, MechWarrior Rhodes got up to shake my hand.

Good to see you back on your feet, boss. Bravo lance just isn't the same without you.

I glanced over at Alice and smiled.

Well, I don't know about that. Though you have Alice to thank for getting me back into fighting shape.

Dr. Saturnia frowned.

The Doc helped too.

I pulled out my personal Datapad and began to read over the briefing.

Pirates huh? Looks like a fairly straightforward operation. Sounds good to me.

I tapped Alice on the shoulder and motioned to her that I was going to grab some food before the Briefing began.

Surprise me.

Alright, be back in a minute.

I went and grabbed two bowls of steaming hot Vegetable Beef Stew. I brought them back and sat down and passed a bowl to Alice.

She smiled and dug in. I looked at my watch and saw that the briefing was going to start soon.

[steelecho]

A briefing in the Mess Hall? This has got to be one informal outfit. Though from the sounds of things, this is a first.

Strolling into the Mess Hall, I looked at the assortment of people already gathered for the briefing. In one spot I saw MechWarrior Lourde and in another I saw MechWarrior Rhodes making small talk to my Lance Commander, Taylor.

For the looks of things, he was pretty involved with one of the Medical Staff.

Well, I hope that means he's not one to lead with reckless abandon since he has someone to come back to...or he leads us like some hotshot always trying to impress her and gets my ass killed.

I grabbed a plate of spaghetti and sat down the table from the couple and dug in.

[Wedge Lourde]

"Captain, do we know who the pirates are?"

I asked, crunching on a crouton.

[MechWarrior Josef]

I half walked, half ran into the mess hall. I had gotten my foot stuck inside the simulator room door. Again.

Why do I always have to be so late?

I decided to grab some food before I analyzed the data... I could never think on an empty stomach. I nabbed a bowl of chowder and sat down next to O'Connell.

First Op?

Yes it is, sir.

Well, you've got a decent amount of skill, if the recent simulation we had is any evidence. You'll do fine.

Thank you sir.

I turned away from O'Connell and starting trying to eat my chowder. I was having problems getting the spoon to penetrate the thick top layer of chowder.

Well, this day hasn't exactly had a brilliant start...

[Gen Miyamoto]

I was running late for the briefing, and apparently it was being held in the mess hall. An unusual spot I'll admit, but I can't see why it wouldn't work. I quietly cursed the quartermaster to a thousand unplesant deaths as I walked in mid-way through the briefing. "Last time I bring in my mech the day of" I muttered as I sat down at a darkened table.

[Captain Benjamin Maxwell]

I had received a number of odd looks when I requested that the Mess Hall be configured for a mission briefing, and I couldn't say I was the most comfortable with the idea, either. However, the tension present throughout Op V had reached a boiling point, and as such, even though a three-month downtime had followed, I wanted to ensure that our next field assignment allowed the crew to ease back into the swing of things as comfortably as possible. The Quartermaster had suggested a briefing over lunch as a convenient way to break the ice, and though the notion seemed ludicrous at first, the longer I dwelled on the idea, the better it seemed.

And rom the looks of things, all those present, with the possible exception of Schuster, appeared to be enjoying themselves, and I allowed myself a subtle sigh of relief as I took a swallow of water and brought the portable holoprojector to life.

"All right, let's get down to business, shall we?" I announced, raising my voice above the bit of conversation that remained as the mission brief and related details exploded across the center of the table in vibrant 3D.

"House Liao was pretty impressed with the work we did for them during Phoenix Down. They've tapped us again, for a counter-insurgency Op.

"As you all know, the Word of Blake has hit the Capellan Confederation pretty hard. The bulk of their military has been committed to contending with an invasion that seems to grow stronger and more widespread every day, and as such, their ability to defend worlds that are not under seige has become quite limited.

"Apparently, word of this weakness has travelled fast, and a rash of pirate raids has begun on a number of Capellan border worlds. Now, for the most part, these strikes are being carried out by poorly-armed amateurs attempting to exploit the current weakened state of the Confederation, and the local militias have been largely successful in driving them off. However, there has been one exception. "

I pressed a button on the projector's remote control, and a 3D representation of a lush, green-and-blue world flickered into existence.

"The planet Ares. A thriving world, located on the edge of Capellan space, near Terra, has come under attack by a much better-organized, and better-armed group of bandits. The raids are happening on a bi-weekly basis, and have been so well-coordinated and supplied that the local militia hasn't had any success in thwarting the invaders. In fact, last week, the pirates managed to steal a Leopard-class DropShip, and used it to drop additional reenforcements onto the planet this past Tuesday.

"Needless to say, this poses a major threat to House Liao. Ares is the home of a number of large corporations, including one of the few Capellan 'Mech producing centers left in existence. It is also home to Earthwerks Limited, the leading manufacturer of some of the most widely-utilized DropShips in the Inner Sphere. The loss of Ares, particularly to bandits, would deal a devastaing blow to the Capellan Confederation's economy, and they've petitioned us to make sure that doesn't happen.

"Our objectives are simple: wipe out the bandits, and any fortifications they may have established in the system, recovering any captured buildings or technology the pirates may have acquired. Simple, right?"

A few knowing chuckles went up as I took a stab at the limp chef's salad that sat before me, and looked up at the gathered cadre.

"Questions, please."

[MechWarrior Josef]

I raised my hand.

Do we know anything about enemy assets?